Page 30 - ARUBA TODAY

A30 PEOPLE & ARTS
Wednesday 28 June 2017
U2 bassist thanks band for helping him through addiction

By JOCELYN NOVECK award from MusiCares, the
AP National Writer charity arm of the National
NEW YORK (AP) — In a Academy of Recording
frank and heartfelt speech, Arts and Sciences. “In our
U2 bassist Adam Clayton band, no one will be a ca-
thanked his bandmates of sualty. We all come home,
four decades for their sup- or none of us come home.
port during his treatment No one will be left behind.
and recovery for alcohol Thank you for honoring that
abuse years ago, and then promise, and letting me be
joined them for a rollicking in your band.”
rendition of a few hits. He ended by quoting lyr-
“We have a pact with ics that Bono, U2’s front-
each other,” said Clayton, man, had written when the
57, who was receiving an band was starting out: “If

Edge, left, Adam Clayton, and Bono perform at The 13th Annual MusiCares MAP Fund Benefit Con-
cert at The Playstation Theater on Monday, June 26, 2017, in New York.
Associated Press
you walk away, walk away, ing disease is what drove slack of my failing. Bono,
I will follow.” At that, his me towards this wonderful The Edge, and Larry (Mul-
bandmates came out to life I now have. It’s just that len) truly supported me
join him, performing “Stuck I couldn’t take my friend before and after I entered
in a Moment You Can’t Get alcohol. At some point I recovery, and I am unre-
Out Of,” ‘’Vertigo” and, fit- had to leave it behind and servedly grateful for their
tingly, “I Will Follow.” claim my full potential.” friendship, understanding
The evening at the PlaySta- He said part of the reason and support.”
tion Theater in Times Square he had a hard time quit- Clayton received the Ste-
also featured performanc- ting drinking was that, “I vie Ray Vaughan Award for
es by rapper Michael didn’t think you could be in his support of the MusiCares
Franti, Jack Garratt, reg- a band and not drink. It is MAP Fund, which offers mu-
gae singer Chronixx, Macy so much a part of our cul- sicians access to addiction
Gray, and The Lumineers, ture.” recovery treatment.
who are currently appear- It was Eric Clapton, he said, Arriving at the theater ear-
ing with U2 on their “Joshua who finally told him he lier, he told reporters the
Tree” tour. needed help. fund was especially im-
Clayton was introduced “He didn’t sugarcoat it. He portant given the current
by British record producer told me that I needed to epidemic of opioid ad-
Chris Blackwell as someone change my life and that I diction. “MusiCares ... re-
who “lived through ad- wouldn’t regret it,” Clayton ally provides funding for a
diction and came out the said. He credited anoth- lot of people to look into
other side, and has been er friend, The Who’s Pete those things and find help,”
courageous enough to ad- Townshend, for visiting him he said. He added that his
mit it.” in rehab, where he “put bandmates had been sup-
Taking the stage, the bass- steel on my back.” porting him for 40 years.
ist quipped: “I’m not used As for his bandmates, Clay- “You know, I guess they
to achieving anything on ton said, “I was lucky be- loved me before I knew
my own.” cause I had three friends how to love myself,” he
Turning serious, he said: “I’m who could see what was said. “So it’s really impor-
an alcoholic, addict, but in going on and who loved tant that they share this
some ways that devastat- me enough to take up the with me.”q

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